FAQ

Frequently Asked

The Film

Are you making one movie, or are you making a separate movie for each member?

This film will take place in North SF Bay either today or sometime within the last decade. While we love a good space, special effects, fantasy, or action movie, our creative focus is on people, community, and relationships - simple, truthful storytelling that honors you, honors this place, and facilitates connection.

So, you're making a feature film inspired by members and members get creative say. What does that mean?

The first thing members will do is fill out their Tell Us Your Stories survey. There members find some questions about some general film preferences, as well as some specific questions designed to go a bit deeper. We'll be very thoughtfully considering what each member shares with us, looking for where common themes between members emerge, and looking for specific touchstones of inspiration. What we'll end up with is the first work of Film Terroir - a film that captures the spirit of people in this specific time and place.

No story that you share with us here will be told on screen as-is, rather we'll be finding bits of inspiration that will be woven into a single work of fiction that's inspired by your truths. As such, these surveys are private and will only be seen by our producer, our screenwriter, our director, and our script consultant. We want you to feel safe sharing with us. Sometimes the best stories might be difficult ones to tell, for a myriad of reasons, and we want you to know that you and your stories are safe.

We'll also be reaching out to members to make key decisions and contributions. Members will get to cast a role, name the film, and choose the poster design. Members will also have the opportunity to feature a place in the film. Say you own a cool barn and think it would be fun to say, "hey, that's my barn in the movie!" Let's shoot a scene in or around your cool barn.

How do you select the filmmaking team from Hollywood?

We look for a combination of extraordinary talent, disciplined professionalism, high quality of character, and a desire to use art as service. These artists are typically in our circles of professional friends culled over 20+ years, or come to us via recommendation from people who know the combination of talent and character with which we look to collaborate.

You mention that the movies will be SAG-AFTRA productions - what does that mean?

SAG-AFTRA stands for Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, and it is the union of professional screen actors. Both in front of and behind the camera, your film will be made by experienced professionals who have dedicated their lives to the art, craft, and business of filmmaking. We want to make you the best film possible. Other filmmaking labor unions include DGA (Directors Guild of America), WGA (Writers Guild of America), and IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists, and Allied Crafts), International Cinematographers Guild, and the Motion Picture Editors Guild. We believe in the vital work that these unions do to protect people working in the entertainment industry, their careers, and their families.

What will the movie be about?

We have no idea, and that's part of the fun! The first thing members will do is fill out their Tell Us Your Stories survey. We imagine the first time our screenwriter sits down to look at all of our members' surveys, it'll look like this, but less crazy and more fun :)

How can I sign up to be in the movie?

Our cast will be a mix of professional actors based in the major entertainment hubs of Los Angeles and New York and professional actors based in the Bay Area. That said, the pros had to start somewhere, so we are open to seeing talented but green locals at our local auditions. Local folks might want to get on our mailing list. Los Angeles casting breakdowns will be posted in the usual places.

We can't say for certain, since we don't yet know what the film will be, but there may be opportunities to be an extra in the film if we need groups of nine or more people for a scene. We'll reach out to members about being in the film if the opportunity arises.

It would have been fun to offer small roles to members as a membership add-on (we did look into this), but found that would be in violation of California labor laws. One can't offer employment in exchange for money, even a donation. Not everyone outside of the industry realizes this, but acting positions are real jobs like any other job - they come with health insurance, dental & vision plans, and possibly pension (with enough qualifying work). For every one celebrity you've seen, there are hundreds of normal people making normal, middle-class, steady livings as professional actors, living much like anyone else - buying starter homes, maybe having kids, trying to live in good school districts, etc. For most actors, their lives are pretty much like folks in any other profession, and just like any other profession, those jobs require a specific skill set and knowledge base.

I'm a screenwriter. How can I submit my screenplay?

The creative concept of Folklight is that we commission a screenplay to be written for our members based on who our members are, what is important to them, and what they want to see, so at this time, we don't produce completed screenplays. We do have plans to work toward being able to do so in the future.

Two member events are Member-made Short Films and a Festival of Member Shorts, so members who are screenwriters (or actors, or directors, or any other film position) have the opportunity to get a fully-produced, completed short film that screens in theatres for about the cost of a dinner and drinks.

I'm an actor, screenwriter, director, musician, music producer, film scorer, singer/songwriter, costume designer, hairdresser, or makeup artist, and I'd love to get involved in the filmmaking and/or live performance. Is there an opportunity for me to do that?

There is! While we can't offer employment as a membership item (that's prohibited by California state law.), we would love to get members involved as much as possible, and we'd love to consider members for both paid and unpaid creative opportunities. We'll be reaching out to members after our enrollment period closes this fall to see who we've got and absolutely considering members for deeper creative involvement.

Again, two member events are Member-made Short Films and a Festival of Member Shorts, so members who are screenwriters (or actors, or directors, or any other film position) have the opportunity to get a fully-produced, completed short film that screens in theatres for about the cost of a dinner and drinks. These are membership opportunities available to all members, and other opportunities will present themselves along our two year journey together.

Will the movie be rated R?

We don't know, and that will be up to our members. Members will have the opportunity very early in the membership to share with us their feelings about R-rated content and the contexts in which such content would or would not be welcome, and we will follow membership's lead. It's for you, after all, and we feel confident that we can make a quality film of any rating. Very generally (because this can be a whole conversation), we will not be making any art for shock value or that's exploitative. That's just not our bag. We will be looking to use the art of storytelling to create opportunities to feel and heal together, be it though laughter or tears (or anything in between). To connect.

Will I be able to show the movie to my children?

We don't know. That will largely depend on the age of your child and your personal parenting style.

What will happen with the film once it is completed?

We'll be doing the film festival circuit and seeking distribution for each film. Just to give you an idea of what to expect, of the 4044 feature-length films submitted to Sundance in 2013, less than 2% were accepted and got distribution deals, but that doesn't necessarily even mean that the less than 2% that secured distribution actually made money. That said, our filmmaking team has had success securing distribution for their films. We're in the luxurious position of making films expressly for our members and our local community, and while we'd love those films to be sold and enjoyed by a wider audience (they very well may be), we don't need them to. That's the freedom that Folklight's business model gives us - the freedom to focus on our local community and to prioritize what our people want above all other concerns.

The Business

What does farm-to-table film mean?

Much like the farm-to-table food movement - sourcing food from local farmers, supporting small, local farms, and serving up fresh, local food - we're sourcing our film locally. You might like a lot of movies and TV shows, but no Hollywood bigwig is asking specifically what Sonoma County people want. They're just guessing what people all over the country might want and hoping for the best. At Folklight, instead of guessing what you might like, we're just gonna ask you. In this analogy, Sonoma County people are the farm - your experiences, your values, your relationships, your stories - and our team of professional filmmakers is the chef.

Is Folklight Film Club really a nonprofit organization?

Yup. We have no investors, owners, or shareholders hoping to make a profit. Folklight is governed by Board of Directors comprised of passionate local people and experienced filmmaking folks.

How can a nonprofit make a film?

From a filmmaking standpoint, the same way anyone else does. From a business standpoint, it is different. Although scripted, narrative filmmaking by a nonprofit hasn't ever been standard practice (yet), all it takes is a shift in focus from the pursuit of personal wealth to creating an infrastructure for continued filmmaking that benefits a community. There's nothing wrong with pursuing wealth - but that focus creates one business model, and shifting thinking away from that opens up some new and exciting possibilities. There are actually many documentaries made by nonprofits looking to strengthen conversations around and awareness of their respective issues of focus. Our goal is getting back to storytelling's roots in community, and by nature that favors narrative filmmaking over documentary.

What happens if the film makes money?

If/when our movies make money, our members decide where that money goes. Members can opt to send their "share" back into Folklight to support continued filmmaking, to our scholarship fund, to further build and expand our education program, or to the local 501(c)3 service organization of their choice. I've put the word "share" in quotes because Folklight has no owners or shareholders who will make a profit from our films. We want the money to benefit the community, either as support for continued filmmaking that steers the money back into the local economy, as direct donations to other organizations, or as support for educational programs that provide career-building opportunities for local people.

Joining Folklight

I don't live in Sonoma County - am I still eligible to join the club?

We consider this a local movement. Residents of Sonoma, Napa, Marin, and Mendocino Counties are welcome to join Folklight at this time, and all events will take place in Sonoma County with select events happening also in Marin and Napa counties. We do plan to open chapters in other communities nationwide, and each chapter will source members (and inspiration) locally. If you live elsewhere and you feel like your community would be a good fit for Folklight down the road, that's a conversation we would love to have with you. Ideal locations for Folklight are small-to-midsized cities or clusters of small towns and rural communities (like we have here in Sonoma County) where people love the arts and trying new things. We can see future chapters in places as varied as Madison (WI), Portland (OR), Santa Fe (NM), Charleston (SC), Buffalo (NY), Lexington (KY), Overland Park (KS), Waco (TX), Providence (RI), and Honolulu, to name a few.

My child is interested in joining as well. How old do you have to be to join Folklight Film Club?

Children aged 13-17 are welcome to join with the signed permission of their parent or guardian. Membership would be a great multigenerational experience for parents with older children or parents with adult children (and spouses, if applicable). We don't feel that membership is appropriate for younger children at this time, however it would be exciting to explore the possibility of creating a membership a little down the road that focuses specifically on families, and creating a film specifically for children based on what they say they want, if the interest is there. That sounds like it could be amazing. Kids do say the darnedest things :)

When does the membership start?

The first membership begins September 1, 2018 and ends on August 31, 2020. We have limited space, so our membership enrollment period is happening now and will end when those spots are full. If you want to join, it would be best to secure your spot earlier rather than later.

How much does it cost to join the club?

The average cost of membership is $558 for the full two years, just below the cost of the average wine club. Please visit Become a Member for more detailed pricing information.

There is a group of us that are interested in joining the club. Do we receive a discounted group rate?

Yes, you do! Groups of 3 or more members should call 707-604-5745 Tues - Sat 10am - 4pm to purchase their memberships at our group rate. The group rates are $67 quarterly per person, $247 yearly per person, or $474 one-time payment per person, and each person in your group can choose a different payment plan - whatever works for each person in your group works for us :)

I'd love to join, but most of the events seem to be on weekends and that's when I work.

There is some flexibility in our scheduling, and when we know exactly who all of our members are and where they are located, we'll be firming up those dates, locations, and times based on where members are and when they're available. You might notice that several dates are listed for most events. Most events will happen over several days and in several locations, so you will have the opportunity to sign up for the event that is located and timed most conveniently for you. All events will have at least one date located somewhere in Sonoma County, and select events will give you the option of attending in Napa or Marin counties. The one exception to all of this is our Oscar Party, which will happen in Sonoma County on the evening of the Oscar broadcast only.

What happens if I am interested in joining the club but there are no open spots available?

There are limited spots available, and once those are filled, membership will close. After membership closes, anyone who's interested will be added to the waitlist and be invited to join in 2020 as we gear up for our next film and membership experience.

Supporting Folklight

I love the concept but I don't live in the area. How can I help support Folklight Film Club?

We would love and appreciate your support, either in the form of a donation, corporate sponsorship, or spreading the word about Folklight in your various communities. Our plan is to open chapters of Folklight Film Club in communities all over the country, and your support would help us grow to possibly open one in your area. Read more about our Folklights, Camera, Action fund here, follow us across all of our social media platforms (see the icons at the top of any page here), and share our video, this website, and press articles wherever you are moved to do so. Thank you!

Events

What if I can't attend a scheduled event?

You are welcome to share the experience with a loved one and have them take your place by simply letting us know by email or phone. Your loved one will be added to the waitlist and invited to become a member once membership reopens in 2020 and spots become available.

Can I invite family and/or friends to the events?

Unlike a wine club, most Folklight events are for members only, due to space and budget constraints. Couples will need to purchase a Two Person Membership. A small pool of tickets for these three events - Film Inspo Concert, Concert of the Original Soundtrack, and Members' Red Carpet Premiere - will be available for members to purchase for non-member friends and family.

Payment

What methods of payment do you accept?

The future is here! We accept all major credit cards for payment. We do not accept cash or checks.

What if I have a family emergency and I can't finish paying for the membership?

While membership is a two-year commitment, we understand that sometimes disaster strikes, and we don't want membership to be an added stress or burden at difficult times. We'll be working with members on a case-by-case basis as situations such as medical emergencies, prolonged illnesses, and moves out of our service area occur (to cite a few examples). Talk to us, and we'll see what we can make work.

Other

Is there swag available for purchase?

There will be, yes :) Please get on our mailing list (look below) to find out when that is available. We'll be rolling that out in very small runs until we get a better idea of demand, so keeping up with our mailing list will help ensure that you get yours as soon as items are available.